Chinese State Media on Ray Mondo's Visit to China: "Low Possibility of Finding a Breakthrough in US-China Trade"

"Lehman Do, Will Repeat That He Does Not Seek Decoupling"

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo arrived in China ahead of discussions on export controls and other pressing issues, while Chinese state media maintained the view that this visit is unlikely to become a turning point in bilateral relations.

On the 27th, China's Global Times (GT) cited experts' assessments, stating, "Secretary Raimondo's visit to China is a litmus test of the U.S.'s sincerity in improving bilateral relations," but also noted, "The likelihood of finding a major breakthrough in trade and commercial sectors is low."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Furthermore, GT emphasized, "Although the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced the removal of 27 Chinese companies from the 'Unverified List' ahead of Secretary Raimondo's visit, over 600 Chinese companies and institutions still remain on U.S. lists." GT also referenced a New York Times report suggesting that U.S. sales restrictions targeting China's semiconductor industry could expand following this visit.

Zhou Long, a researcher at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, explained, "The U.S. is still trying to maintain channels for dialogue and to develop cooperation in certain areas with China," but added, "However, those 'areas' mainly align with the U.S.'s greatest interests." Zhou warned, "There is no change in the U.S. strategy to contain China's technology and military sectors."

He Yuanwei, deputy director of the U.S. Studies Center at Fudan University, predicted, "Secretary Raimondo is likely to reiterate rhetoric that the U.S. does not seek economic 'decoupling' from China," but also stated, "At the same time, she will emphasize national security concerns." He criticized, "This concept has been politically abused to suppress China's advanced technology."

Some interpret the successive visits of high-ranking U.S. officials?including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Presidential Climate Envoy John Kerry, followed by Secretary Raimondo?as groundwork to pave the way for a U.S.-China summit at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting scheduled for November in San Francisco. Zhou also told GT, "Recent frequent high-level contacts between the two countries are paving the way toward the APEC summit." The outlet assessed, "Amid the worst U.S.-China relations in decades, the recent high-level visits to China by U.S. officials aiming to promote dialogue should be viewed positively as they help create a better atmosphere for further talks."

Secretary Raimondo arrived in Beijing on the evening of the 27th, beginning a four-day visit. Following Beijing, she is expected to visit Shanghai to meet with local Communist Party secretaries and members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, with possible visits to New York University’s Shanghai campus and Disneyland also being discussed.